Clare firm in €300,000 deal with Canadian energy giant

7 Nov 2008

Ennis weather-forecasting tech firm Nowcasting has signed a €300,000 deal to provide Canadian global energy giant NEXEN with high-resolution weather, meteorological and oceanographic data for its North Sea outposts.

Nowcasting is headquartered in Ennis, Co Clare with offices in Aberdeen and Houston, Texas, and is an established leader in supporting offshore operators with their meteorological and oceanographic forecasting needs.

The company has been working in the North Sea for nine years and currently has operations in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, the Mediterranean, West Africa and Sakhalin Island.

“We have been steadily building a solid reputation in the North Sea, so it is great for our industry credibility that companies of this scale are placing their forecasting requirements in our hands,” Dr Mark White, CEO of Nowcasting explained.

“To design and operate offshore installations in a safe and efficient manner, good knowledge of the weather and water conditions which that installation may be exposed is essential.

“That is what we provide and Nowcasting’s technology and expertise have proven to significantly improve planning and safety in the offshore industry.

“One of our key differentiators is that we can provide clients with our operational planning tools, which ensures they get the messages without being swamped by data.”

Nowcasting is a client of Enterprise Ireland’s Internationally Traded Services Division.

“A strong base of indigenous, internationally traded service companies is a key element of Ireland’s enterprise strategy,” Kevin Sherry, head of Internationally Traded Services with Enterprise Ireland explained.

“Through its wide and successful internationalisation, Nowcasting is a prime example of what can be achieved by a services company on the global stage. 

“In securing this contract with Nexen, a leading international player in this field, Nowcasting shows that effective use of technology and innovation can ensure Irish services companies compete effectively with the best in the world,” Sherry explained.

By John Kennedy

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com